Pin stem clasp



Sept. 24,1968

J. o. BATTISTELLO 3,402,438 PIN STEM CLASP Filed June 24, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOHN O. BATTISTELLO BY United States Patent 3,402,438 PIN STEM CLASP John 0. Battistello, Chartley, Mass., assignor to General Findings, Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 24, 1966, Ser. No. 560,338 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-155) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pin stem clasp formed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself into a closed loop with the overlapping ends contiguous and provided with openings through which the pin stem may be passed, said openings being normally out of line but movable into alignment when the clasp is under spring pressure there being a stop to limit the movement of the overlapping ends toward each other.

This invention relates to a pin stem clasp sometimes referred to as a friction nut which has various uses in the preventing of a pin stem from being withdrawn from some part through which it is passed.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the holding of an ear ornament in position Where the pin pierces the ear and is to be retaied against being retracted from position of passing through the ear.

The invention comprises the bending into a open loop of a piece sheet stock with the ends of the sheet stock overlapping and each of the overlapping ends being provided with an opening of a size to receive the pin stem to be held in position. When the loop is at rest, the openings are out of line but may be moved into line by pressure on the opposite ends of the loop to align the openings enabling the pin stem to be passed through them, and then upon releasing the pressure on the ends of the loop, the edges of the openings will grip the pin stem and hold it in position in the openings. An opening across the loop may also be provided for the reception of the pin stem. A Wide arch is provided above the overlapping portions of the loop which serves as a stop to limit the pressure or movement of the ends of the loop in sliding one relative to the other to align the openings.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple clasp which may be made inexpensively by being formed into shape largely by machine operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which will limit the movement of the ends into aligning position so that the clasp will not be excessively strained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wide arch to obtain the resiliency desired in the clasp.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing an ear ornament with the pin stem thereof piercing the ear and with my clasp in position thereon;

FIG. 2 is an elevation on a somewhat larger scale partly in section of the pin stem and clasp in locked or holding position;

g 3,402,438 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the clasp in release position with relation to the pin stem;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmental section of the overlapping portions with the pin stem removed.

In proceeding with this invention, I lay out on a rectangular section of sheet stock of the proper length and width openings which are of a size to receive the pin stem or member to be accommodated and then bend this piece of sheet stock into generally loop-shape with the ends to the stock overlapping and with a large arcuate bend in the sheet stock just above the overlapping portions of the sheet stock so that when the ends are: slid one relative to the other this are will serve as a stop to limit the movement of the ends towards each other or one relative to the other.

With reference to the drawing, fragmental portion thereof which therethrough. An ornament stem 14 is passed through reduced end or blunt end 15 10 designates an ear or ear has a piercing 11 12 having a cup 13 and pin the ear having a somewhat to facilitate such passage and the clasp or friction nut 16 is positioned upon this pin stem on the opposite side of the lobe of the car 10 from that on which the ornament 12 is located.

This clasp or friction nut is bent up from a rectangular sheet of stock and has a body portion 20, the upper end of which merges into an are 21 extending greater than and terminating in an end portion 22 parallel to the body 20 and provided with an opening 23. From the lower portion of the body 20 the stock is bent arcuately as at 25 and then upwardly as at 26 to provide an end portion 27 parallel to the body 20 and contacting the end portion 22 and in a position beneath the overhanging portion 28 of the are 21 so that when the end portion 27 is in contact with the end portion 22 and is slid along the end portion 22, it will abut the are adjacent where the end portion 22 joins the are as at 29. This end portion 27 is provided with an opening 30 which is slightly smaller than the opening 23 and when the clasp 16 is at rest with no pressure applied will be slightly out of line with the opening 23 and below the opening 23 as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, with no pin in position and with the clasp at rest, the openings will be out of line as shown in FIG. 6

An opening 35 is also provided in the body portion 20 opposite the overlapped ends 22 and 27.

In some cases the pin stem may be passed through the opening 35 and its pointed end 15 may project through the opening 23 and pick up the opening 30 so that the openings 23 and 30 will be forced into a position similar to that shown in FIG. 2. However, more usual operation will be to press upon the opposite ends of the loop as at the curved portion 37 and the lower portion 38 (FIG. 3) by the thumb and finger so as to align the openings such as shown in FIG. -3 and then position the pin stem 14 through the openings 35, 23 and 30, and then to release the pressure on the points 37 and 38 so that the end 22 will move relative to the end 27 and cause the lower edge of the opening 23 to engage and bind upon the pin stem 14 as shown in FIG. 2 and in section in. FIG. 4, thus providing 'a sufficient friction so that the clasp will remain in position upon the pin stem with ordinary usage.

The stop or point 29 with which the end of the part 27 engages also serves as a means to prevent pressure at the points 37 and 38 from forcing the openings too far beyond alignment.

I claim:

1. A clasp of the character described comprising a single resilient piece of sheet metal disposed in a closed loop with its opposite ends contiguous and overlapping, said ends being relatively movable by resiliency of the sheet metal, each of said overlapped ends having an opening therein of a size to receive the member to be clasped. said openings being normally out of alignment when the clasp is at rest but being movable into alignment by pressure in opposite directions on the ends of the loop to flex the stock thereof whereby when in alignment to receive the member to be clasped to be gripped by the edges of the openings when the pressure is released, said material of the loop adjacent the innermost overlapped end being offset outwardly of the lop to act as a stop to limit the sliding movement of the outermost of the overlapped ends one on the other as the loop is contracted to align said openings.

2. A clasp as is claim 1 wherein the material of the loop opposite overlapped ends is provided with a hole for the reception therethrough of the member to be clasped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 494,456 3/1893 Blaeske 24-155 771,693 10/1904 Apthorp 24-217 3,040,406 6/ 1962 Artzt 24263 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. ERNEST SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner. 

